European nations host leaders of Turkish organized crime groups

European countries have become hubs for various Turkish organized crime groups, following a history of hosting political organizations. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies are tracking several high-profile criminal networks operating across the continent.

Key developments include the arrest of Barış Boyun in Italy in May 2024 and the capture of Beratcan Gökdemir, leader of the Daltons, in Russia. The Daltons are reportedly active in Belgium, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Greece, Poland, Spain, and Italy. Meanwhile, Ismail Atız, leader of the Caspers, was released in Germany before being arrested in Italy.

Other notable activities involve the Çekdarlar group, with leader Ömer Baran Kandemir reportedly in the Netherlands, and the Şirinler group, whose leader Mehmet Sabri Şirin was arrested in the Netherlands in 2022. In the Mediterranean region, Ramazan Bayğara of the Bayğaralar group was extradited from Greece to Turkey, and Ümit Yalçın of the Çingeneler group was wounded in an armed attack in Malaga, Spain.

Additional groups mentioned include the Yaramışlar, linked to drug networks in Belgium, and the Redkitler, whose leader Ferhat Delen was captured in Georgia and extradited to Turkey.